Autumn in Arkansas isn't complete without its lineup of family-friendly festivals and fairs! Take a spin on a carnival ride, enjoy a performance at an arts festival, and sample some of the tastiest treats in the state. Here are 25 memory-making events, from a hot air balloon festival to a good old county fair.

Sept. 6-8

24th Annual Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship in Harrison: Take a helicoper ride, watch tandem skydiving, take a tethered hot air ballon ride and more! There will be a CASA Kids Corner with inflatables, pony rides, music, face painting, food and fun for the family This event is hosted by Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce. Check the schedule for event details. Admission is free, helicopter rides are $20 per person and tethered hot air ballon rides are $10 per person. For info: 870-741-2659, website. 

Sept. 7

Little Rock Paper Airplane Festival at Clinton Presidential Park: Hosted by the Lymphomaniac Society, this family-friendly event raises money to help those currently being treated for cancer. The event features exhibitors talking about the mechanics of paper airplanes, what it takes to create the perfect paper aircraft, sustainability and recycling. Kids can then compete in three age groups to see whose paper craft flies the furthest. Starts at 10 a.m. $20 per family through Sept. 6 and $25 per family on the day of the event. Visit the website for more info and for details about entering the competition.

Harvest Night at the Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock: This family friendly event at the Arkansas Foodbank includes a southern-style dinner of barbecue and catfish, local craft beverages, live entertainment and children’s activities like a petting zoo and bounce houses. A relaxed atmosphere provides a night of fun for the whole family, while raising awareness about the Arkansas Foodbank’s work. 5-8 p.m. Kids get in free, adult tickets are $40. Proceeds go to support the Foodbank. For info: arkansasfoodbank.org.

Sept. 14

Tinkerfest at the Museum of Discovery: Get ready for a day of science fun at the Museum of Discovery. At this annual event, tinkering takes over the entire museum and neighboring streets for a day-long event with more than 40 hands-on, interactive activities. Each activity teaches visitors how everyday objects such as cars and computers work, and provides opportunities to explore the engineering and science behind building objects. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is $8-$10. Visit the website for info.

Little Rock BrunchFest at Heifer International: Little Rock’s inaugural festival to celebrate the area’s best brunch food and beverages! The event benefits Centers for Youth and Families and features food and drinks from 41 Bar and Table, Cantina Laredo, At the Corner, Cathead's Diner, Bar Louie and more than a dozen other restaurants. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets start at $25. For info: website.

Sept. 14-21

Lonoke County Fair & Livestock Show at Lonoke County Fairgrounds: Enjoy a carnival, pet show, talent show, and parade! Visitors can also explore exhibits, such as livestock, horticulture, arts and crafts and more. Special events include the Red Neck Games and lawn mower races. Check the website for more event details. Gate admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children, and kids under age 6 get in free. For info visit the website.

Sept. 17-21

Faulkner County Fair at Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds: At the 81st annual event, enjoy a midway, home economic booths, commercial exhibits, live entertainment, and livestock exhibits filled with sheep, cattle, hogs, rabbits and more. Cheer on the floats as they parade through downtown Conway at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The parade theme is "LEGO to the Faulkner County Fair!" For info: website.

Sept. 21

Barnaroo at Heifer Village and Urban Farm: Head to the barnyard at Heifer International for a celebration of international transFARMations! Enjoy hands-on crafts for kids and adults, engage in international activities, meet the cutest barnyard of animals and try a variety of international foods. The fun goes from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For info: Facebook. FREE!

Little Rocktoberfest at Dickey-Stephens Park: PARENTS NIGHT OUT! Enjoy a beer festival celebrating craft beer, local breweries, and the home brewing hobby. Enjoy samples of various brews; food and other beverages available for purchase. Must be 21 to enter. 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $45 the week leading up to the event and $35 in advance. For info: website. 

Petit Jean River Monster Festival in Danville: From turtle racing to a pie contest to a baggo tournament, this fest has it all! The morning starts with a 3-mile walk/run at 7:45 a.m. and the fun goes until 10 p.m., closing out with live music. There's also a car/motorcycle show, arts and crafts booths, a log sawing contest and more. For info: Facebook. 

Sept. 22

Main Street Food Truck Festival in downtown Little Rock: Browse more than 50 food trucks, dozens of craft vendors and more in downtown Little Rock. The festival will span six blocks North and South along Main Street and three block East and West along Capitol Avenue. Main Street will be blocked off from 3rd to 8th Streets and Main to Center Streets on Capitol Avenue. Entrance to the festival is free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For info: website.

Sept. 27-28

FestiVille at Dupree Park in Jacksonville: From 3-7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, the seventh annual FestiVille features carnival rides and games, live entertainment, concessions, a volleyball tournament, petting zoo, kids area and more! Admission and parking are free. For info: website.

Sept. 28

Fall Fest at Bishop Park in Bryant: Join local businesses, school groups, clubs and talents in this festival of fun and food! Activities include a duct tape boat race, parade and KidzLand 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission & parking are free; food and Kidzland admission vary. For info: 501-847-4702, website. 

Westoberfest at Wildwood Park for the Arts: Westoberfest is a family-friendly afternoon and evening of fun for the community! Enjoy Bavarian-inspired beverages and food, musical performances, games and dancing in the pavilion. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-17 or get a family pass (for up to six family members) for $30. 2-10 p.m. For info: website.

Oct. 5

5th Annual Arkansas Honey Festival at Bemis Honey Bee Farm & Supplies: The Arkansas Honey Festival is an educational event that celebrates honey and the bees that make it. The day will be filled with workshops, honey tasting, honey contests, honey smoothies, honey extracting and more! Peruse the food trucks and visit a kids area will filled with bounce houses, face painting and other activities. Admission is free. Goes from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For info: Facebook.

World Cheese Dip Championship in Little Rock: Skip lunch and leave room for lots and lots of cheese dip. Enjoy live music as you make the rounds at the Clinton Presidential Center grounds taste testing some of the world's best cheese dips from amateurs and professionals alike from noon-4 p.m. Early bird tickets purchased online are $10 and kids 6 and under get in free. For more information, visit the website.

Great Arkansas Goat Festival at the Perryville City Park: This one-of-a-kind festival is all about goats! From 10 a.m.-6 p.m., the whole family can enjoy a goat parade, goat costume contest, goat races, America's Goat Talent Show, live music and food vendors. The festival is free. For info: website.

Oct. 11-20

Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock: Is it really fall if you haven't gone to the state fair? Enjoy tons of carnival rides, visit farm animals, watch a rodeo, and fill up with fried food. Click here for ticket information. Open and close times vary by day. For info: website.

Oct. 12

HarvestFest in Hillcrest: The day starts with a farmers market and then you'll find live music, tons of food, free kids activities, a dog show and tons of vendors taking over the streets of Hillcrest starting at 11 a.m. at this family favorite festival. Make sure to hit up the pancake breakfast at 9 a.m. For info: harvestfest.us. Free to attend the festival; breakfast and other activities have various costs.

Celebrate Fall! at Garvan Gardens: Explore the gardens decorated for fall with mums and pumpkins galore, climb on the Spooky Train, visit the haunted depot and pick your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Children’s craft booths and various festival games will be located throughout the gardens and Chipmunk Café will serve fall treats. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for ages 4-12 and free for ages 3 and under. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For info: website.

Cupcakes for Goodness Sake in Argenta: Head to Argenta as the historic streets are transformed into a Halloween town! From 4-8 p.m. try all the sweets you can handle from lots of local vendors and chefs. The event raises funds for CareLink and tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under. For info: Facebook.

Oct. 26

Arkansas Cornbread Festival on South Main Street in Little Rock: A cornbread competition puts culinary skills to the test for home cooks and professional chefs alike. From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. enjoy live music, local brews and peruse food trucks and vendors. The Cosmo Kids Zone gives little attendees something to do as well! For info: website.

Chili Fights in the Heights: Welcome in cool fall weather with this cozy and tasty event. Chili Fights in the Heights is a neighborhood festival with two purposes: to have fun and to raise money for the Arkansas Foodbank. For just $5, attendees get to taste tons of delicious chili and then vote on their favorite. Festival goes from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For info: Facebook.

Oct. 27

Downtown on the Farm at the River Market Pavilions: This brand new festival will feature live music from country singer Adam Hambrick, Bonnie Montgomery, The Going Jessies and Rodney Block as well as food trucks, pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, a beer garden, a rice dig, tractors for kids to see and touch and more! Noon-6 p.m. Admission is free. For info: website.

Nov. 16

Roberts World Fest at Roberts Elementary School: Sixteen countries are represented at this festival through educational booths and fun activities! There's also a wide variety of international foods as well as performances by international musicians, singers and dancers. Stop by and visit with Little Rock Zoo animal ambassadors. Admission is free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For info: website.